Mika 017 (Patreon)

“To think this old man could be healed after so long,” Elder Yan said, feeling his core become stable. His memory was now a memory of the distant past. “I can now cultivate to greater heights. I cannot thank you enough. Even with all the riches this guild has, it wouldn’t be enough.”

“Elder Yan, you have paid me well.” Mika waved a hand dismissively. “In the future I will lean on you, so please do so with me as well.”

“Even my son, who was stuck at Base Iron Second, is now at Base Iron Fourth. He seems to be progressing quickly. It’s only a matter of time when he reached Bronze.” The Elder looked up. “To think our family would be able to regain our glory.”

“Your family is filled with glory and feats worthy of respect.” Mika said it as though it were a matter of fact.

“…”

Mika looked up to see the look in the Elder’s eyes, as well as the words which refused to leave his lips. “If there is something bothering you, Elder, please do speak. I have not yet learnt how to read minds.”

Elder Yan wondered if Mika could read minds, but he relented quickly. “My family is indeed filled with such feats, but outside of my son being a genius, and myself holding claim to such a title before, it is my father who is the true genius. His abilities are greater, so great that I believe him to be a mountain that I can’t even see the peaks of. He spends so much time with his alchemy, and yet his cultivation is on par with his peers. Perhaps my son can surpass him, but that day will not come soon.”

Mika was wondering what the Elder was thinking about, but it was only that. “Elder,” he said, smiling. “That day will come sooner than you think. Those who help me will only find great fortune come to them.”

“I trust in your words, young man. You have already shown us miracles at such a young age.”

“These aren’t miracles,” Mika said, waving his hand dismissively once more. “This is knowledge which would have come to you in due time. I am not foolish enough to underestimate you, Elder Starr.”

“…”

Mika looked up to the Elder again, waiting.

“Master Blackhand,” the Elder bowed his head. “I promise to keep it a secret until the day I die, but… does this God of Medicine truly exist?” he whispered.

Mika looked up to the sky above them. Memories flooded of the old man he had met during his first life, the same old man who was but a shadow over the horizon no matter how powerful Mika had become. “He does,” Mika said, with nothing more to say on the topic. 

“Amazing…” Elder Yan sat there, silent. “This God of Medicine… I’d like to meet him one day.”

“The chance is not zero, but for now, I’ll have to take the role of that in your life.” Mika sat up and then crossed his arms. “How else will I shower you all with good fortune?” He smiled.

“Haven’t you showered us enough? Our guild is already reaping the benefits of slowly rolling out the new products. Some people have even become suspicious of our products, even though we informed them that we have merely changed a few of our recipes.” Elder Yan sighed. “Though can I blame them? Some of our pills have become a little weaker, even if we’ve discounted them, there is still some truth to their suspicion.”

“It’s a good thing in the long run. A slightly weaker, but heavily discounted, pill will allow us to cultivate the town into a stronger force. Would you rather a warrior at Base Steel, or a hundred warriors at the peak of Forged Bronze?”

“There is some benefit to both.”

Mioka nodded. “The height of our cultivators will soar with our new recipes, and the ground level will be raised. At the tournament of Rising Stars, all will see the fruits of our labour. We will reveal all your ranks then.”

“I have noticed you have been giving out some pills and such to your brothers. What of their sisters?”

“You will handle that in a few months time when you go to them with the deals that have yet to be made. You’ll make a fair deal with them, and then give them a few extra items which are inconsequential, but show good manners. Once each family has proven their worth, then you can give them a better deal.”

“You’re doing so much for them…”

“You know that I am crippled, right?”

Elder Yan nodded. 

“The families have shown me a great deal of love ever since I was a baby. They would often procure all manner of medical items without the expectation of being repaid.” He paused as he looked up at the sky again. He closed his eyes and then sat up, his face growing serious.

“If I can’t do at least this much, would I be able to call myself a man? Even if we were to give them a thousand Bronzeheart pills, it would be nothing compared to the riches I will bring to all those who treat me well.” Mika summoned out a formula. “I’ll entrust this to the Elder and master. Do not reveal it to the public, but refine a few of them. At the tournament, you’ll gift a bunch of these to those who place in the top ten, and then some minor gifts to those who participated.”

“What is it?” Elder Yan asked, taking the formula.

“Refine it and drink it before you sleep. You’ll see.” Mika yawned.

The Elder bowed his head. “Is it a secret from your master?”

“Everything I’ve given you is from the bottom of the barrel. This is no different. Even a Diamondheart pill would be nothing for my master, except to toss to we lowly life forms. However, I can’t just flood the world with his knowledge or there would be too many problems.”

“Your master is quite the being.”

“Don’t look too high towards the sun, you’ll be blinded.”

The Elder tensed up and brushed his beard. “This old man isn’t so foolish as to do such a thing.”

“Elder, you’re still young. You have your entire life ahead of you yet.”

“I have few dreams other than to see my children married and to live a happy life, even if that boy is such a brat!”

“I don’t know much about your family, Elder. Would you care to share it with me?” He had only picked up a few rumours here and there, but nothing concrete.

“There is not much to say. I am the third son of my father, and have two sisters, one older, one younger. I have Jon, the damn brat, and two daughters. Jon is my oldest. My two daughters are currently studying under my father.”

“Did Jon study under your father as well?” He had heard so, but it was good to confirm.

“He did. He rose to be a genius within our family. He’s also quite spoilt because of my father, but that’s a small price to pay for having such a brilliant star within our family.”

“Speaking of dreams, what about your cultivation? Do you have any goals in that regard?”

“If I am able to reach Steel, I would be a happy man.”

“Not Silver?”

“Silver? Heavens. That is but a distant dream, something beyond the horizon. Steel is fine for me.”

“If you become Silver, you’ll be able to harvest more ingredients with ease, and you’d be able to harvest greater ingredients.”

“I can hire someone to assist me in that regard. We’ll be so rich that we’ll hire a thousand Silver warriors.” The Elder smiled, even though he was mostly joking.

“You know, Elder, it would be embarrassing for you if your son managed to reach the same rank as you at half your age.” Mika lay down on his back and yawned again. 

“…”

“… What?” Mika asked.

“What do you mean by such a thing?” Elder Yan asked. “Jon is still decades away from reaching such a height.”

“Decades? No, not at all. He’ll be Steel by the time he reaches thirty years old.” Mika shrugged his shoulders.

“How can that be?”

“I was planning on getting him to Bronze in a few years, and then Steel not long after. It would be more convenient if he was Steel, so we should at least aim for that soon.”

“What?” Elder Yan stared down at Mika in disbelieve. “How long would it take me?”

“Hmmm…” Mika rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. “I don’t want you to become too powerful too fast. You’ve only just recovered from your injuries and that would draw too much attention. Master Jon will be Base Steel by thirty, so you should at least aim for Tempered Steel around the same time.”

“You can do such a thing?” 

“Of course I can,” Mika said, staring up a the Elder with annoyance on his face. “Why wouldn’t I? The goal is to eventually get the pair of you to Gold, so why not aim for Steel so quickly? Well, it’s not that quick, but by the time I reach twenty, we’ll be aiming for greater heights.”

“I-if you are able to do so, this one will give his life for a thousand lives!”

“I don’t need so many lives.” Mika smiled. “Lean on me and I will lean on you, that’s all. I should bea leaving now, Elder.” Mika hopped onto his feet. “Ah, but before I go, I do have a simple request.”

“What is it that you need?” Elder Yan quickly asked.

“There will be an auction in the local city. I would like to accompany the Elder there. I will spend my own money from the profits I’ve earned, but I will need you to bid for me so as to not arouse suspicion.”

“That’s not an issue at all! I can certainly fulfil such a request.”

“Good day then, Elder. I’m off to nap.”

“Good day, Young Master.” Elder Yan clasped his hands together, still digesting all the information he was given. Could he really believe in the words of the boy? He had shown him so many miracles already, but…

He watched the small boy leave towards Starr Alchemy.